Drug Office Director Confirmation Day 2

Day 2 of the nomination of Robert Martinez to be Director of National Drug Control Policy. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the confirmation of Robert Martinez, former governor of Florida, for the position of director of the National Drug Control Policy. The previous day, Mr. Martinez testified before the committee and responded to questions on his ethics and his drug control policies as governor of Florida, in which he spent significantly more money on prosecution of drug criminals than drug treatment and education. Rep. Coughlin advocated Mr. Martinez for the position and urged the Bush administration to continue the National Drug Control Policy. Governor Ashcroft concurred, citing the reduction of drug trafficking by recent discovery and prosecution of drug criminal activity. Several speakers objected to Mr. Martinez' confirmation on the grounds that he would potentially fail to adequately fund drug rehabilitation and education programs. close